County budget passes on 2nd reading
The Madison County budget for fiscal year 2024-25 was complete as of Friday, June 28.
It technically was complete 11 days earlier when the Commission approved it in its monthly meeting on June 17, but because the County has traditionally approved it with two votes and some of the Commissioners wanted a second vote, the special-called meeting was scheduled for the final business day of June.
Every department was budgeted a 3 percent increase in payroll with three departments – county commission administration, fire department and maintenance – getting larger raises that were promised to them by the budget committee and commission the year before.
After the vote was held on June 28, Commissioner Aaron Ellison asked about the raises to ensure that he understood who all were getting raises.
He wanted to make sure that each employee of the County got a 3 percent raise, but County Attorney Jay Bush said there’s nothing that requires them to give every employee the same amount in percentage of a raise.
Before the budget vote, Mayor A.J. Massey brought a Mayor’s report, and this edition consisted of the seven members of the Madison County Fire Department that left last week for New Mexico.
That region of the country is experiencing flooding and in need of assistance in dealing with it, and first responders there put out an all call across the country to any departments that could send assistance.
Massey said as of last week Madison County was the only one who’d answered the call so far from Tennessee.
“The work they’re going to help with is very dangerous, so I know they would appreciate prayers while they’re over there,” Massey said.
Before adjournment, Commissioner Shelia Godwin expressed gratitude for the new playground at Godwin Park, which is named for her great uncle Henry Godwin.
Attendance report: All but three Commissioners were present for the meeting. The absenties for this one were Olivia Abernathy, Karley Bond and Claudell Brown.
Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news
